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A Nick Williams Mystery #11
The Sodden Sailor
Sunday, February 6, 1955
It's Sunday night and Nick has decided he wants to get back in the kitchen to make a couple of pans of lasagna for dinner, something he hasn't done since he and Carter moved into the big pile of rocks on Nob Hill.
Captain Daniel O'Reilly, pilot of The Flirtatious Captain, is bringing a friend for dinner. Instead of his latest love interest, the captain introduces Nick and Carter to an old friend, a man who is on his last legs and who has a favor to ask: can Nick and Carter help him get his girl and her son out of Red China?
That's where things begin but it's far from where they end...
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2017
26 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Frank W. Butterfield
123Ìýbooks106ÌýfollowersFrank W. Butterfield, not an assumed name, loves old movies, wise-cracking smart guys with hearts of gold, and writing for fun.
Although he worships San Francisco, he lives at the beach on another coast.
Born on a windy day in November of 1966, he was elected President of his high school Spanish Club in the spring of 1983.
After moving across these United States like a rapid-fire pinball, he currently makes his home in a hurricane-proof apartment with superior water pressure that was built in 1926.
While he hasn't met any dolphins personally, that invitation is always open.
Although he worships San Francisco, he lives at the beach on another coast.
Born on a windy day in November of 1966, he was elected President of his high school Spanish Club in the spring of 1983.
After moving across these United States like a rapid-fire pinball, he currently makes his home in a hurricane-proof apartment with superior water pressure that was built in 1926.
While he hasn't met any dolphins personally, that invitation is always open.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 27, 2019
In this installment, Nick gets another plane (formerly owned by J. Edgar Hoover .... the plane has a bedroom which is promptly cleaned and the mattress thrown out), goes to Hong Kong and finds out what happened to one of his childhood friends. All in all, an interesting book and I'm moving on to the next book in the series.
I think I'm getting obsessed with this series, although I admit to being continually confounded by Nick giving someone a punch in the kidneys as a means of settling an argument, etc.
I think I'm getting obsessed with this series, although I admit to being continually confounded by Nick giving someone a punch in the kidneys as a means of settling an argument, etc.
September 8, 2017
The Sodden Sailor (Nick Williams #11)
By Frank W. Butterfield
By the author, 2017
Four stars
The adventures of Nick Williams and his husband Carter Jones take our boys even farther afield this time—all the way to the “mysterious orient.� Butterfield has such mastery over the basic story line and his characters now, that each mystery is not a mystery, but an exploration of what it was to be gay in the 1950s from every possible angle. As always, Nick and Carter’s vast wealth isolate them from all of the truly bad things—except for emotions. For all his impatient, privileged tough-guy approach to life, Nick is a weeper; and in book eleven he weeps more than usual. And that’s what I love about Nick, because his heart is as vulnerable as any child’s, for all his devil-may-care exterior.
What drives the main plot this time around is an unlikely quest to rescue the half-Chinese half-sister of Captain Daniel O’Reilly, captain of Nick and Carter’s yacht. There are a couple of sub-plots, including a murder that is the source of this volume’s title.
More importantly, however, are some truths that Nick and Carter face together; truths about childhood, and how each of us is formed by what happens to us when we’re young and stupid and, often, helpless. In learning some unexpected history about his step-mother’s former maid, Geneva, and Carter’s mother, Nick has an epiphany about where he might have turned out differently himself. Former cop Mike Robertson has become such a fixture as the head of Consolidated Security, that we forget he was Nick’s first love, and took him in when Nick’s father threw him out at nineteen. Nick’s own father started out this series as such a supremely nasty guy, it’s hard to fully grasp the man he has become. Butterfield takes such pleasure in exploring these evolving relationships, and it’s a pleasure to read.
As always, it is the interactions of the characters and not the plot itself that is the heart of the book. Fueled by the action, the true point of the narrative, even as our boys buy yet another airplane (with a great provenance!) and fly across the world to Hong Kong is this:
“We’re all family, whether we’re related or not.�
It’s a very simple premise, but no less powerful for all that. As one character reminds Nick and the reader: “Don’t forget Nick. Every moment is wonderful.�
Even in the bad old days, life was wonderful if you had friends. That’s the crux of this series, and it is proving a strong lynchpin to even the most unlikely adventure.
By Frank W. Butterfield
By the author, 2017
Four stars
The adventures of Nick Williams and his husband Carter Jones take our boys even farther afield this time—all the way to the “mysterious orient.� Butterfield has such mastery over the basic story line and his characters now, that each mystery is not a mystery, but an exploration of what it was to be gay in the 1950s from every possible angle. As always, Nick and Carter’s vast wealth isolate them from all of the truly bad things—except for emotions. For all his impatient, privileged tough-guy approach to life, Nick is a weeper; and in book eleven he weeps more than usual. And that’s what I love about Nick, because his heart is as vulnerable as any child’s, for all his devil-may-care exterior.
What drives the main plot this time around is an unlikely quest to rescue the half-Chinese half-sister of Captain Daniel O’Reilly, captain of Nick and Carter’s yacht. There are a couple of sub-plots, including a murder that is the source of this volume’s title.
More importantly, however, are some truths that Nick and Carter face together; truths about childhood, and how each of us is formed by what happens to us when we’re young and stupid and, often, helpless. In learning some unexpected history about his step-mother’s former maid, Geneva, and Carter’s mother, Nick has an epiphany about where he might have turned out differently himself. Former cop Mike Robertson has become such a fixture as the head of Consolidated Security, that we forget he was Nick’s first love, and took him in when Nick’s father threw him out at nineteen. Nick’s own father started out this series as such a supremely nasty guy, it’s hard to fully grasp the man he has become. Butterfield takes such pleasure in exploring these evolving relationships, and it’s a pleasure to read.
As always, it is the interactions of the characters and not the plot itself that is the heart of the book. Fueled by the action, the true point of the narrative, even as our boys buy yet another airplane (with a great provenance!) and fly across the world to Hong Kong is this:
“We’re all family, whether we’re related or not.�
It’s a very simple premise, but no less powerful for all that. As one character reminds Nick and the reader: “Don’t forget Nick. Every moment is wonderful.�
Even in the bad old days, life was wonderful if you had friends. That’s the crux of this series, and it is proving a strong lynchpin to even the most unlikely adventure.
November 21, 2017
This story is kind of all over the place. In fact it takes place in several places (San Francisco, Hawaii, Hong Kong, and briefly China, and Australia), including some asides/insights to the past. For me, there was really too much going on. I was finally having trouble tracking the ensemble of characters, even though the author provides short referential descriptions for the characters previously introduced. Some of the asides and tangents are left unresolved, but we can guess that they'll be revisited in Nick and Carter's future adventures. I think I'm addicted to Nick, a condition Carter mentions as catching. :)
December 3, 2023
Another great Nick and Carter Mystery. This time the mid-century husbands end up in Hong Kong helping out their pal, Captain O'Reilly smuggle his sister and nephew back to safety. So much fun revisiting these beloved characters in this cozy mystery series. I'm now officially more than 1/3 of the way through the 32 book series! Can't wait to keep going!
June 10, 2017
I've read every book in this series and I honestly hope the stories never end.
June 5, 2017
Loved it. Might be my favorite...
August 21, 2017
Another delight, with a brand new airplane (well, one previous owner), a trip to Hong Kong, and a Hawaiian term I had missed up until now - aikane.
July 7, 2017
The Gay Millionaire
I remember as a kid watching "The Millionair" on TV. I'd think the Gay Millionair would would be great on TV. Nick giving away money while teaching people to love. This was another fun episode.
I remember as a kid watching "The Millionair" on TV. I'd think the Gay Millionair would would be great on TV. Nick giving away money while teaching people to love. This was another fun episode.
October 30, 2019
A somewhat more complex plot than usual - and more globe-trotting, this time to Hong Kong and mainland China, via Hawaii - and then on to Sydney.
Set in early 1955, so soon after the People's Republic was established. Hong Kong, although expanding isn't quite the bustling world city that it has since become. It is interesting to see the British aspect as from an outsider's point of view.
Most enjoyable.
Set in early 1955, so soon after the People's Republic was established. Hong Kong, although expanding isn't quite the bustling world city that it has since become. It is interesting to see the British aspect as from an outsider's point of view.
Most enjoyable.
December 8, 2018
Better and better
That's what your books do. They just keep getting better. I usually read each one in one sitting. Can't seem to put them down. Love Nick, Carter, and the ever-growing list of employees. Can't wait for the next book.
That's what your books do. They just keep getting better. I usually read each one in one sitting. Can't seem to put them down. Love Nick, Carter, and the ever-growing list of employees. Can't wait for the next book.
November 15, 2019
Another winner!
There was a lot of intrigue in this book, and so many surprises. The depth of love between Nick and Carter really jumped out. Every book has been my fave which makes me look forward to read the next.
There was a lot of intrigue in this book, and so many surprises. The depth of love between Nick and Carter really jumped out. Every book has been my fave which makes me look forward to read the next.
March 13, 2018
Really Loved it!
September 15, 2018
Excellent, almost felt like I'd been there in Hong Kong with them. I remember the movie "Love is a Many Splendid Thing" and could feel the atmosphere. Kudos on yet another remarkable book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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